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| '''Flag Ratio:''' 1:2 | |||
| The '''Union Jack''', or '''Union Flag''', is the ] of the ]. "Union Flag" has been the name preferred in official documents since the late ]. "Union Jack" is the traditional name, and remains more popular, though it's strictly speaking incorrect, since a jack is for use only at the prow of a ship. | |||
| <table align="right" width=130px><tr><td>]</td></tr> | |||
| <tr><td>''Original Union Flag<br>of 1606''</td></tr></table> | |||
| The creation of the original Union Flag started in ] when ] also became ] and on ], ] the first 'Union Flag' was created. It was a superposition of the red cross of ] of ] and the ]'s saltire of ]. Note however that the ground of the Union Flag is a deep "navy" blue. The blue ground of the Scottish national flag, the ], from which the blue ground of the Union Flag is derived, is a lighter "sky" blue. The Welsh flag never became part of the Union Flag as it had been annexed by ] much earlier on and so was considered part of the kingdom of England. | |||
| The current Union Flag dates from ], ] with the Act of Union with ]. The new design added the red saltire cross attributed to ] for Ireland. The saltire is counterchanged to combine it with the saltire of St. Andrew. The red cross actually comes from the heraldic device of the Fitzgerald family who were sent by ] to subjugate Ireland and has never been used as an emblem of Ireland by the Irish. | |||
| The Union Flag was originally a royal flag, rather than a national flag. In fact, no law has ever been passed making it a national flag, but it has become one through usage. Its first parliamentary recognition as a national flag came in ], when it was declared that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". A more categorical statement was made by the Home Secretary in ], when he stated that "the Union Flag is the National Flag". | |||
| The Union Flag is found in the canton (top left-hand corner) of the flags of many former colonies of the UK, notably ] and ]. In both countries, the Union Flag was used semi-interchangeably with their national flags for significant parts of their early history. It was also flown in ] until the Liberal government of ] introduced a ] in ]. | |||
| Regarding to flying it the correct way up, the broad white band on St. Andrew should be above the red band of St. Patrick in the upper hoist canton (the corner at the | |||
| top nearest to the flag-pole). | |||
| '''External links:''' | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| ---- | |||
| '''Flags of Countries within the United Kingdom''' | |||
| ] - ] - ] - ] | |||
| '''Flags of the Channel Islands:''' | |||
| ] - ] - ] - ] - ] | |||
| '''Naval/Airforce/Army Flags''' | |||
| ] - ] - ] | |||
| '''Other Flags''' | |||